Partial characterization of specific inducers of a cuticle-degrading protease from the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae.

The insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae produces several extracellular cuticle-degrading proteases and evidence is consistent with one of these, PR1, which is a chymoelastase, being a determinant of pathogenicity. We have shown previously that PR1 production is regulated by both carbon catabolite and nitrogen metabolite repression and also by specific induction under derepressed conditions by insect cuticle. In the present work we have established that an enzymically released proteinaceous component(s) of insect cuticle is capable of inducing PR1 (based on appearance of extracellular activity).

A simple procedure for optimising the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using modified Taguchi methods.

Taguchi methods are used widely as the basis for development trials during industrial process design. Here, we describe their suitability for optimisation of the PCR. Unlike conventional strategies, these arrays revealed the effects and interactions of specific reaction components simultaneously using just a few reactions, negating the need for extensive experimental investigation.

Physiological concentrations of insulin induce cellular desensitization to the mitogenic effects of insulin-like growth factor I.

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are structurally related peptides capable of stimulating a variety of metabolic and mitogenic processes. In this study, we investigated the interaction between these peptides and their receptor-mediated pathways in an untransformed cell line. Cultured bovine fibroblasts specifically bound IGF-I and insulin, and each peptide could stimulate DNA synthesis and cell replication through its own receptor.

Cost: benefit of prevention in practice.

An enquiry among 50 successful, general dental practitioners working under a capitation payment system for the treatment of children, showed that they all thought that prevention on selected patients was of value to their practice. They said that prevention enhances the reputation of the practice, adds to the job satisfaction of the dentist and is part of modern dental philosophy. However, only when practised selectively would it be cost: beneficial.

Insulin-like growth factor-II enhancement of human fibroblast growth via a nonreceptor-mediated mechanism.

Deciphering the complex interactions of the various components of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system [IGF-I and -II peptides, type I and II IGF receptors, and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs)] is important for our understanding of cell growth regulation. We report here that IGF-II can enhance IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation independent of direct IGF-II interaction with type I or II IGF receptors. Human fibroblasts cultured in serum-free medium for 40 h were relatively resistant to the mitogenic effects of added IGF-I.

Paediatricians' reports to general practitioners: should parents receive copies?

The aim of this study was to determine whether it was helpful for parents to receive a copy of the letter written by the paediatrician to the general practitioner (GP) when a child was referred to a paediatric outpatient department for the first time or with a new problem. A randomly allocated sample of 40 intervention patients and 49 comparison patients was seen 2-4 weeks following the consultation in a semi-structured home interview conducted by a researcher who did not know the group allocation. Although significant differences in parent knowledge were not detected, parent satisfaction with the consultation was improved.

Human hepatoma cells synthesize and secrete insulin-like growth factor Ia prohormone under growth hormone control.

Nucleotide sequencing of cDNAs encoding human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) predicts the existence of two different prohormone forms of IGF-I. The E peptide regions extend the carboxy-terminus of the 70 amino acid core IGF-I molecule (BCAD domains) by either an additional 35 (IGF-Ia) or 77 (IGF-Ib) amino acids. Employing antiserum directed against a peptide sequence unique to the E peptide region of IGF-Ia prohormone, we have identified EIa immunoreactive material (IR-EIa) in the conditioned medium of a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2.

Detection of molecular variation in the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium using RAPD-PCR.

DNA polymorphism among isolates of the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and M. flavoviride was investigated by RAPD-PCR. DNA fragments of between 0.

Phorbol ester tumor promoters regulate insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 proteolysis.

Cultured human fibroblasts secrete a specific protease that alters extracellular insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) structure and function. This enzyme appears to be secreted in a latent form and requires IGFs for activation. To study regulation of the IGFBP-4 protease, we treated normal adult human fibroblasts with various hormones and growth regulatory factors, and collected the human fibroblast-conditioned medium (HFCM) for analysis of IGFBP-4 protease activity.

Association between untreated caries and age, gender and dental attendance in adults.

The aim of the study was to examine the association between untreated caries on the crown and root of the tooth with the age, gender and dental attendance in a group of adult. Six general practitioners in the Greater Manchester area agreed to take part. Over a 6-week period they collected clinical and personal data on 270 of their adult patients.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and protein availability in rat osteoblast-like cells.

PTH treatment of UMR 106-01 rat osteosarcoma cells increased 20- to 100-fold medium levels of a discrete insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) with M(r) of 29K. Northern analysis of UMR cellular RNA hybridized with a specific IGFBP-5 complementary DNA probe indicated a 6.0-kilobase transcript induced within 2 h in PTH-treated cells.

Prevalence of enamel defects/fluorosis in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in Ireland.

Water fluoridation was introduced in Ireland in 1964 and in recent years the availability of fluoride from other sources had increased. As part of a National Survey of Children's Health in Ireland Dean's and the DDE indices were used to determine the prevalence of enamel fluorosis/defects in 8- and 15-yr-old children in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. Over 94% of the children examined in all areas were regarded as having normal enamel, as defined by Dean's index, the remainder showing evidence of either questionable, very mild or mild fluorosis.

Insulin regulation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 in obese and nonobese humans.

Insulin is the principal regulator of hepatic insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) production, mediating the rapid decrease in plasma IGFBP-1 in response to nutritional intake. In this study, we defined IGFBP-1 regulation by insulin in upper and lower body obesity, conditions associated with insulin resistance and chronic hyperinsulinemia. Overnight postabsorptive IGFBP-1 levels in obese and nonobese women showed an inverse, nonlinear relationship with plasma insulin concentrations.

A European view of fluoride supplementation.

During the autumn of 1991 a meeting was convened in Brussels by Colgate entitled 'European view of fluoride supplementation'. Throughout Europe, product dosage and age related dose recommendations for fluoride supplements vary widely. With the advent of 1992, different instructions on the same packet would cause considerable confusion in a more integrated Europe with its mobile and multilingual society.

The ocular manifestations of sickle-cell disease: a prevalence and natural history study.

Prophylactic photocoagulation may have a role in the treatment of proliferative sickle retinopathy in selected patients with SC disease, but none of the studies reported to date have established that such treatment of these eyes improves the long-term visual outcome as compared with the natural history as documented in this study. The similar visual outcomes in the eyes reviewed in this natural history study as compared with those that have been treated with photocoagulation should not be unexpected, because there is greater predilection for spontaneous involution or autoinfarction of the neovascular tissue in SC disease as opposed to the neovascularization that develops in other retinal vascular disease. A controlled, multicenter clinical trial designed to study those eyes at greatest risk should be considered.

Results and complications in treated retinal breaks.

One hundred sixty-four patients (171 eyes) were treated for retinal breaks and the treatment outcomes were studied. One hundred two eyes were acutely symptomatic, 22 eyes were chronically symptomatic, and 47 eyes were asymptomatic. The reasons for further treatment in 38 of the 171 eyes (22%) included the following: (1) inadequate closure of the original break without detachment in eight eyes (5%), (2) new breaks without detachment in 15 eyes (9%), (3) an operation for retinal detachment caused by the original break in seven eyes (4%), or (4) retinal detachment caused by a new break in eight eyes (5%).